Beth Vyse: The Edinburgh Interviews 2018

Who? Beth Vyse

What? Beth Vyse as Olive Hands: The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

Where? Monkey Barrel Comedy Club (venue 515)

When? 15:45

Are you prepared for what this year’s Edinburgh Fringe has in store for you?

The most prepared I’ve ever been, well having said that, I’ve still got props to get/make: a pregnancy belly, a prosthetic leg, a cabbage from the cabbage patch, oooh and a soul to bare.

What is the premise of your Edinburgh show this year?

Motherhood v’s Career, Control v’s Lack of Control, The known v’s The unknown. Basically the endless battle of being a parent and working and what happens to our dreams as we age, procreate, but still want to continue to try to create. Oh lord it sounds so serious, I can assure you it’s not, it’s all told through my larger than life alter ego. Olive Hands, the No. 2 in the morning, Daytime TV presenter, she’s had a baby, like me, (what a coincidence) and she’s pitched the idea to ITV9 of hosting a Daytime TV show with her baby, they snapped it up, you know what ITV9 are like. So I’m back but this time with a baby, what can go wrong? WHAT THE ‘CRYING HELL’ CAN GO WRONG? Expect extreme stupidity, ridiculous pranks, huge disgusting props from Olive Hands as her decisions are questioned leading to, well, hysteria and hopefully, finally, some happiness.

What was the biggest obstacle you face(d) while putting this show together?

Money, baby, time, letting myself down and sometimes being “an extraordinary physical clown with a ridiculous imagination” **** Scotsman (ahem) I need a bit of reining in. But I think this show is shaping up to have the right balance (ahem) (ahem) sorry there seems to be something wrong with my throat, must be hay fever (ahem).

Who would most enjoy your show?

Oh gosh… what a question… anyone with my sense of humour (ha ha), people who don’t take themselves to seriously, people who like stupid for stupid sake, perhaps someone looking for something a bit different to man/woman with a mic. But seriously after doing shows for a few years in Edinburgh and Nationwide, I really really don’t have a set type, young, old, shy, bold… just come I think you’ll like it. You will certainly get your money’s worth.

Do you have any other Edinburgh show recommendations?

Daniel Cook, saw him the other week and he’s sooo good, Jordan Brookes, Matt Ewins, Harriet Kemsley, Jayde Adams: I also run this course called ‘Finding The Funny’ and there’s a few up from that this year… Olga Koch, Kit Sullivan, Abbie Murphy, Tash Goldstone… All really, really good. Should be a sweet, sweet year for the comedy.

Of course it goes without saying that I have the upmost respect for everyone taking a show up/creating something themselves/putting themselves out there/I mean we are all obviously narcissists… but the best kind of narcissists.

What is your favourite thing about Edinburgh as a city?

Well it’s a beautiful city that goes without saying.But, for the last 8 years, personally my favourite place is TOP SHOP on Princess Street, I go on the penultimate day of the Fringe and buy myself something new and garish as a treat from the sale and then laugh at myself for doing it as I never wear it, it’s the kind of thing my mum would do, so I think of her and it grounds me…

What are your plans for the festival?

To have a jolly time at kids show’s with my baby, the baby’s an excuse, I love kids shows.